The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-12-10
MOVE MBER EVE.

Fred Scott was certainly the most bash
full youth in Fanville, as well as the most
honest and manly, and everybody rather
laughed at poor Fred, for his blushes, his
stammerings, his painful embarrassment
when in the presence of ladies tended to
make him appear decidedly ridiculous.
Now, Franville was a country town,
pretty and picturesque, and Fred lived about
mile from its center, being one OF those
blest bengs,a well-to-do farmer. His faith
er was dead, and his mother and he, with
their farm hands and help" lived com.
fortably in the pleasant, roomy farm house,
which was sketched bY every artist that
came to the neighberhood. even by the beau.
tiful young lady whowas visiting at Squire
1ales. and who was his wife's niece from
the city.
Fred had first seen her sitting under one
of the great naples busy with her pencil
the shadows lightly touching her hair, hel
face, her fleecy dress, her very attitude .
poem to him. And then and there, stand
ing at distance and watching her, the
Door, bashful fellow fell in love with The
graceful city belle, who had so tired OF
mems admiration that she had come to thi;
quiet, Questionable place to escape it.
And when she looked up at last from hel
sketch and seeing him, left her seat and
went gracefully toward him, il really seem
ed to the poor fellow that he would give bis
farm his favorite black horse-anythina
he owned to be ten good miles away and
he was meditating taking to his heels when
the sweetest voice he had ever heard arrest.
ed his intention and sent the blood first &c
his heart and then to his face.
81 am trespassing," the sweet voice said
to him, "but my excuse must he the beauty
of this quaint old place, which / could moi
resist making sketch of. VIII you look
at it and tell me whether | have done il
justice?"
Fred could only blush more deeply and
remove bis broad straw hat while he scam
mered something, ne never knew what.
She was holding out the sketch to him
and he didn't know what he in the world
to do. Finally, trembling violently, lie took
it from her.
"It-it is well done,' he said slowly and
with difficulty. 1T is very true"
do you always hold sketch in that
way when you examine it?" the lady asked,
with smile; and poor Fred then saw that
he had in bis confusion held the the sketch
upside down. This made the perspiration
start out on hisiforehead, and he hastily
rightedit:
81 beg your PARDON" he said. lam
afraid l am but u poor Judge of such Chings.
Will-will You go to the house? My
mother"
Would wonder at my visit. Not To-day.
thank you, But Mona had Talked of taking
me to call on Mrs. Scott"
Mona was Squire Hale's daughtes, and
about the only girl among his acquaintance
Of whom Fied was not MORALLY afraid.
In his delight at the prospect of Seeing this
beautiful gin again he could only stainmer
some unintelligible words, and grow warm
er and more uncomfortable than ever.
81 knew it was not good, but that is
scarcely kind of YOU" she said. reproach-
fully. And poor Fred nearly tainted, for
he saw that in his confusion he had de-
stroyed the sketch.
"I-I am very sorry he fallered, IL
was not thinking"
''Oh, it is Of no consequence" she said,
looking curiously at him. 81 will make
another some day, with youppeimissiou.
"Oh, will you?' he asked eagerly; and
then she smiled and babe him pleasant
adicu, and went away through the sunset.
leaving the sketch in his hands, and from
that day he was more bashful and retiring
than ever, and when Mona brought her
beautiful cousin to call on his mother. and
introduced her TO him, he could not say
word to her
"What do you think of Fred Elane?r
Mona asked, as they We're driving home
ward. Miss Darrel smiled.
"He is decidedly handsome, but wretched-
ly conscious | really was tempted TO as
sure him that we were quite harmless.
Mona, he seemed afraid of us"
"Of you," Mona laughed, che doesn't
mind me in the least, but poor Fred is 10
be pitied; he is afraid to draw his breath
where there are ladies. You'd never think
that he had taken his degree at Rutgers,
would you?'
mo; ! would not think he had ever been
beyond the confines of his own picturesque
farm" Miss Darrell leughed.
The following Sunday Fred met the two
girls as they were all walking, and Mona.
accosted him like an old friend. he was
obliged to walk with them as far as Squire
Hale's gate. hut he scarcely opened his lips
on the way, defeating all Miss Darrel's ef-
forts to draw him out by his strange BASH
fulness.
"Oh, he would provoke me terribly were
to meet him often" thai young lady said
to Mona, when be had left them.
.'He would enchsnt you were he TO con-
quer his timidity, and talk to you as he can
talk" Mona said, stouily; and Miss Dar-
rell shrugged her shoulders.
A week later and one night there was
great excitement in Fanville; a large build
ing had taken fire, and before the flames
had been noticed there was no possibility
Of saving II. As is the case in all country
villages, everybody, was out to see the FIRE.
and, as ihere was no engine within feur